Moldova has rejected a decree by Transdniester's leadership that says the breakaway region should join Russia, in line with the results of a referendum 10 years ago.

In a decree posted on September 7 on the website of Transdniester's separatist leader, Yevgeny Shevchuk, he said it was time to enact the results of the 2006 referendum, in which some 97 percent of the region's residents voted to join Russia.

The Moldovan government's Bureau on Reintegration said in a September 9 statement that the referendum was held illegally by the "unconstitutional" separatist leadership.

The Kremlin denied to comment on the decree.

Transdniester, which shares a border with Ukraine but not Russia, split from Moldova in 1990. The move has not been recognized internationally.

The region holds elections in December and Shevchuk is expected to run.

The region is currently in an economic downturn and the separatist government is unpopular.